Washing machine with collapsible agitator vanes



Sept. 18, 1956 B. R. THIELE 2,763,147

' WASHING MACHINE WITH COLLAPSIBLE; AGITATOR VANES Filed Nov. 24, 1952 2 Shee+L s-Sheet 2 WM @lrfhool (hiele 47 M, 33.. W: 01.4.

United States Patent 2,7 63,147 v WASHING MACHTNE WITH COLLAPSIBL'E AGITATOR VANES Berthold R. Thiele, Ripon, Wis., assignor to Speed Queen Corporation, Rlpon, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application November 24, 1952, Serial No. 322,256 '5 Claims. (Cl. 68-134) This invention relates to Washing machines and more particularly to an improved agitator construction therefor.

Conventional rigid agitator vanes have certain disadvantages for use on washing'machines of the type havng a collapsible pressure-operated tub element for squeez- 1ng water out or" a load of clothes. When the collapsible tub element is pressed inwardly against the agitator, there is a tendency for the clothes in the tub to be stretched unduly between the rigid vanes, particularly if three or more vanes are provided, in accordance with the usual practice. Even when only two vanes are employed, the clothes are stretched to an objectionable degree, and in addition, the Washing efficiency of the machine is greatly reduced.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a squeeze-type washing machine which will not stretch clothes to any appreciable extent.

It is a further object to provide a washing machine of the foregoing character which is highly eflicient in its washing action.

Another object is to provide a Washing machine having flexible, resilient agitator vanes or scrubbers adapted to collapse radially under the pressure of a flexible clothes squeezing tub.

A further object is to provide rubberlike agitator vanes which resist lateral flexing during the washing operation but collapse radially under the squeezing pressure of a collapsible tub element. A related object is to provide a rubberlike washing machine agitator vane constructed so as to collapse radially during a squeeze drying operation without any appreciable lateral flexing.

A further and more general object is to provide an improved agitator construction which is inexpensive, well adapted for mass production manufacturing, and extremely durable in service.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a central elevationa'l cross section of an illustrative squeeze-type automatic Washing machine constructed in accordance with the invention, only the tub portion of the machine being shown.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a rubberlike agitator vane or scrubber forming a part of the illustrative machine.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the scrubber in collapsed position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section through the scrubber along the line 55 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the scrubber in collapsed position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a plate utilized for clamping the scrubber in place on the agitator.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, there is shown in ice the drawings and will herein be described in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that it is not thereby intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed, but it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling Within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, the invention. is there illustrated as embodied in a squeeze-type automatic washing machine 10 (Fig. 1) having a rigid outer tub 12 of the usual type, made of metal or the like, and provided with a sealing cover 14. An upright dasher or agitator 16 is centrally mounted in the tub on a hollow vertical drive shaft 18 for oscillatory rotation thereby.

An opening 19 is provided in the bottom of the tub 12 for admitting the wash water to the tub. After the clothes have. been added to the tub and the cover 14 has been closed, the agitator 16 may be set into oscillation in order to wash the clothes. Rinsing is effected by admitting rinse water through the bottom opening 19. This causes the wash water to rise in the tub and overflow through a plurality of closely spaced openings 20 in the top of the agitator. The openings 20 connect in common with an axial passageway 21 in the agitator, communicating with the interior of the hollow shaft 18. The latter may in turn be connected to a gravity drain or a suitable drain pump (not shown). During the overflow rinsing operation the agitator 16 may be kept in operation.

For the purpose of extracting excess water from the clothes, the washing machine 10 is provided with a collapsible bag or diaphragm 22 made of rubber or the like. As illustrated, the bag 22 takes the form of an accordion-pleated sleeve having its upper and lower edges secured to the tub 12 by respective co-axial annular clamps 23 and 24, located adjacent the top and the bottom of the tub. An opening 25 is provided in the side wall of the tub at a point between the two clamps, for the purpose of supplying water under pressure to the outside of the bag so as to collapse the bag inwardly and thus squeeze the clothes against the agitator 16. During the squeezing operation the extracted water may be withdrawn through both the bottom opening 19 and the openings 20 in the top of the agitator.

In this instance the agitator 16 comprises a rigid hublike body 30,. including an upright tubular column 31 mounted on the .drive shaft 18 and a curved, flaring, flangelike skirt 32 formed integrally with the column adjacent its lower end.

Mounted on the skirt 32 of the body 30 are a plurality of hollow vanes or scrubbers 36, preferably two in number, made of a flexible resilient material such as synthetic rubber (see also Figs. 2 and 3). Each of the vanes has a radial, generally horizontal top edge portion 38 provided with a vertical slot 40 for receiving one of a pair of rigid locating vanes or fins 42 formed integrally with the column 31 of the agitator. Extending downwardly and radially from the top edge 38 is an inclined outer edge 44. Each of the vanes has a pair of relatively thin side walls 46 (Fig. 5) terminating in a marginal portion or rim 48 which defines an opening 49 in the hollow vane. The marginal portion is curved so as to fit snugly against the flaring skirt 32. The side walls 46 arch upwardly and radially from the marginal portion toward the inclined upper edge 44 of the vane. Along the marginal portion 48, the side walls 46 are generally parallel, except adjacent the upper portion 38 of the vane, where they converge. At its lower end, the vane is closed by an end wall 50 (Fig. 3).

Inside each of the vanes 36, the side walls 46 are reinforced by a plurality of parallel archlike ribs 52 inclined upwardly and radially from the marginal portion 48.

The marginal portion 48 of the vane is provided with an outwardly extending flange 54 having undercut grooves 56 to provide a vacuum grip on the top surface of the agitator skirt 32. In addition, the marginal portion 48 has an inwardly extending beaded flange 58 (Fig. which is engaged by a curved rigid clamping plate 60 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6). The latter is secured to the skirt 32 by suitable means such as a plurality of cap screws 62 extending therethrough and threaded into bosses 64 formed on the plate. In this instance the plate is provided with a plurality of hooked marginal lugs 66 which extend between the ribs 52 and interlock with the beaded flanges 58. A rigid, radial, generally triangular fin 68, mounted on the plate 60, underlies and reinforces the horizontal top edge 38 of the rubber vane. One or more apertures 70 extend through the agitator skirt 32 under each of the vanes, to provide for the escape of water and air therefrom.

Although apparent from the preceding description, the operation of the washing machine will be summarized briefly. When clothes are being washed in the machine 10, the rubber vanes or scrubbers 36 oscillate with the agitator 30 so as to provide a scrubbing action which is gentle and yet so effective that a high order of washing efficiency is obtained with only two vanes. The washing effectiveness of the scrubbers is due, in part at least, to their relatively great thickness and surface area. By virtue of the archlike configuration of the side walls 46 and the reinforcing ribs 52 thereon, the vanes resist lateral flexing during the washing operation, so that there is no loss of washing efliciency on this account.

After the clothes have been thoroughly washed, rinse water may be admitted through the bottom opening 19. This raises the water level in the tub 12 so that the wash water will flow out through the overflow openings 20 in the top of the agitator 16. During the rinsing operation the agitator may be kept in operation.

The flow of rinse water may be continued until the overflowing water is clear. Then the bottom opening 20 may be connected to the drain in common with the overflow openings 20. Water under pressure may then be supplied to the side opening 25 so as to force the collapsible rubber bag 22 inwardly and downwardly against the agitator 16. The vanes 36 will be collapsed radially along with the bag by the pressure thus exerted on their inclined outer edges 44, the scrubbers thereby assuming the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The colla sing action of the vanes prevents any appreciable stretching of the clothes which may be draped between the two vanes 36. Moreover, the reinforcing ribs 52 prevent lateral flexing of the scrubbers, which would be likely to cause stretching of the clothes on one side of the agitator.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an agitator for a washing machine, the combination comprising a rigid hublike body, a rubberlike washing vane secured to the body, and a locating vane on the body interlocking with the upper portion of the washing vane to reinforce the latter, the upper edge of the washing vane being slotted to receive the locating vane.

2. In an agitator for a washing machine, the combination comprising a rigid body provided with a central column and a skirt portion, a hollow rubber-like washing vane having side walls converging to a top edge and terminating in a lower marginal inwardly directed flange, a clamping plate disposed inside the vane and engaging the flange for securing the washing vane to the skirt portion, a rigid locating vane on the column above the washing vane, a slot in the washing vane at its upper edge for receiving the locating vane, and a rigid fin on the clamping plate underlying the locating vane and reinforcing the upper edge of the washing vane.

3. An agitator vane for a clothes washing machine comprising in combination a pair of opposed side walls of flexible resilient material spaced apart at the inner edges and converging gradually toward each other to form a juncture defining an outer edge for said vane, means of flexible, resilient material interconnecting the ends of said side walls to form with said side walls a hollow enclosed body, said side walls being of arched configuration for restraining said vane from lateral flexure but permitting inward collapse of said vane, and flanges on the inner edge portions of said side walls for connecting said vane to said washing machine.

4. A vane for a washing machine agitator of the type having a central upright column and a flared circular skirt portion comprising a hollow body having a pair of side walls and integral end closure means of flexible resilient material, said side walls being spaced apart at their inner edges and gradually converging together at their outer edges for resisting lateral deflection of the outer portion of said body but permitting transverse bowing of said sidewalls and consequent collapse of the outer portion of said body in an inward direction, the inner edge portions of said side walls having a shape corresponding to the configuration of said agitator and having means including integral flanges for attaching said vane to said agitator.

5'. A vane for a washing machine agitator of the type having a central upright column and a flared circular skirt portion comprising a hollow body of flexible, resilient material having a pair of side walls spaced apart at their inner edges and having outwardly extending portions converging toward each other in an arch configuration to define an outer edge of the vane, an end wall enclosing the outer end of said body, the inner end portions of said side walls converging horizontally toward each other for enclosing the inner end of said body, a series of internal ribs extending outwardly along each of said side walls, said ribs having an arched configuration corresponding to the shape of said side walls and tapering in width from their inner to outer ends for coacting with said side walls to resist lateral flexure of said body while permitting inward collapsing of the outer portion of said vane, and means on the lower edge portions of said side walls for connecting said vane to said agitator.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,199,028 Litle Apr. 30, 1940 2,455,043 Calhoun Nov. 30, 1948 2,592,330 Quartullo et a1. Apr. 8, 1952 

